Population connectomics

Every animal nervous system shares a common wiring blueprint, but no two individuals—not even identical twins—have exactly the same neural connections. This project will map the complete connectome (the full set of synaptic connections) of multiple individuals of the same species, using electron microscopy and machine learning, to find out which parts of the wiring diagram are universal and which vary from one animal to the next. The problem is fundamental: we know that individuals differ in behaviour, learning, and memory, but we have no idea how much of that difference stems from variations in neural wiring. Without a baseline for what is conserved versus variable, we cannot distinguish normal variation from pathological changes in brain disorders. This is curiosity-driven fundamental science. It will reveal the neural circuit basis for inter-individual differences and establish a baseline for comparing connectomes across species. In the longer term, understanding which wiring patterns are invariant could help identify where brain disorders disrupt conserved circuits, and which variable regions might underlie individual differences in cognition or behaviour—insights that could eventually inform more targeted neurological diagnostics.